Dehumidifier



Jan. 13, 1959 E. T. MoRToN ET AL DEHUMIDIFIER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 1. 1954 /f/ /Wmmf Eva/w 7." Marion Jan. 13, 1959 E. 'r'. MoRroN ETAL DEHUMIDIFlER 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 1, 1954 Jan. 13, 1959 E. T. MoRToN ET AL 2,867,993

DEHUMIDIFIER Filed Feb. 1, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States PatentjO f DEHUMIDIFIER Application February 1, 1954, Serial No. 407,484

Claims. (Cl. 62-297) 'This invention relates to new and useful improvements fin air conditioning apparatus, and in particular to a de- .humidifyng apparatus. f

Among the improvements which are incorporated in the present invention are those which include simplicity of construction, portability, convenience of repair or adjustment of the same and economy of manufacture.

Other advantages of the invention will be set forth hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims` The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is an elevational view of a combination dehumidifier and humidifier which embodies the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the same, parts being broken away to reveal other parts;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of elements of the humidifying apparatus embodied in the Fig. 1 device;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of elements of the dehumidifying apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 of Figure 3, the View being on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section in perspective, corresponding to Figure 4;

Fig. 9 is a section indicated by line 9-9 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 10 is a wiring diagram, shown schematically.

In the drawings, the reference character 11 is used to denote a base for the humidiiier-dehumidifier apparatus-- which embodies the present novel dehumidifier, while` above the level of the base is a casing or cowl 12, supported from said base by a pair of standards 13 extending upward from opposite sides of the base. The cowl 12 `is surmounted by a horizontal handle 14 transversely of its upper end as a convenience for moving the-apparatus. The cowl 12 is spaced adequately from the base 11 to accommodate a removable basin or-liquid receptacle 16 in which water removed from the air may collect when the apparatus is being operated as a dehumidifier and alternately, where a supply of liquid is carried when the apparatus is to be operated as a humidifier.

Provision is made to support the basin 16 in a predetermined position wherein the basin is on the base 11 in concentric relation to the lower end of the cowl 12. The lower extremity of the cowl is also at a level slightly abovethe level of the basin 16 so that air, drawn into the cowl by means, later to be referred to within the cowl, may first pass at a uniform rate over the upper edge of 2,867,993 Patented Jan. 13, 1959 the basin and be later ejected from the upper end of said cowl. The base 11 is therefore formed with a depressed central region or seat 17 complementary to the bottom of the basin thereby to include an annular edge 18 between parallel guides or ridges 19. The bottom of the basin 14 is formed, on opposite sides thereof, with a pair of parallel grooves or creases 21, complementary to the ridges 18. Assuming that the basin 14 has been removed from its position as indicated in Fig. 1 and it is desired to return the basin thereto, the ends of grooves 21 are brought into cooperation with the ends of the ridges 16. Then the basin is slid inwardly and over the seat 17 to the support of which the basin drops slightly when it has passed the edge 18. While so positioned, a pair of diametrically opposite handles 22 on the basin are accessible since they are disposed intermediate the standards 13. Concurrently, angular displacement of the basin on its support is resisted by cooperation of the grooves 21 with the ridges 19. When it is desirable that the basin be removed from under the cowl 12, said basin is lifted over the edge 18 and slid horizontally outward in an order the reverse of what has just been indicated.

The standards 13 are preferably formed of pressed metal and are L-shaped in general formation thus in-v cluding horizontal foot portions 23 (Fig. 4) and upright portions 24. The feet 23 extend under the base 11 to which they are rigidly secured in any suitable manner such as by welding. The portions 24 are of curved formation and from points approximately at the level of the lower edge of the cowl they curve toward each other to their upper end portions which are bridged by the handle 14, the latter including depending portions 26 bolted to the upper ends of the uprights 24. If desired, the lower portions of the uprights 24, where they extend between the base 11 and cowl 12 may be shielded by ornamental covers 27, preferably of some suitable plastic material.

The cowl 12 is slightly bell-shaped since it has walls oficurved vertical sections extending downward from the periphery of an uppermost annular end portion 28 to its annular free edge 29. Centrally of its upper end 28 and in oset relation thereto the cowl is formed with a grille or outlet duct 31 through which air is discharged on its passage through the cowl.

For its support, the cowl rests, at its annular portion 28 on the ends of the standards 13. The cowl is provided with a pair of apertures 32 through which the depending portions 26 pass. For resisting displacement of the cowl 12 upward over the standards, the handle 14 is provided with horn 33, on either end thereof, which extends over the annular end 28. Downwardly thereof, the cowl intimately embraces a vertical annular ange 35 of a drip ring 34 supported in' fixed relation to the standards 13 by a stanchion 36 which includes a lower transverse member 37, to which the drip ring is bolted at 55. One of the purposes served by the drip ring is, therefore, to support the cowl against lateral sway of the cowl about its anchorage at the handle 14. Other purposes of the ring will be referred to hereinafter.

As indicated by the arrows (Fig. 1), air is drawn into the cowl between the edge 29 of the cowl and the basin 16, passes upward through the cowl, and the water is condensed therefrom when the apparatus is operated as a dehumidifier in accordance with the present invention. The ow of air through the cowl is effected by a fan 39 driven by a motor 41. For its support, the motor 41 is suitably clamped to an upper transverse portion 42 of the stanchion 36 in a position wherein the fan 39 is disposed in a horizontal plane just below the grille 31. Intermediate the portions 42 and 37, the stanchion includes vertical portions 43 iixed to the standards 13.

.As the air ows through the cowl 12, it is rst cooled to condense the moisture it contains. The cooled dried air then passes over the condenser to remove the heat from the condenser after which the heated air is ejected through the grille 31. The apparatus producing these effects includes a motor-compressor unit 4.6 (Fig. 3) in a closed fluid circuit with an evaporator coil .47, below the motor-compressor, and a condenser coil 48 above the level of the motor-compressor. Also in the circuit, is a tube 49 Fig. 6 that forms a vibration absorbing loop and which together with a tube 51, of size intermediate the size of tubing 49 and 48 connects the motor-compressor to the condenser. In circuit with the remaining end of the corn denser, is a capillary tube 52, which, at a distance along its length remote from the condenser, is intimately associated with the evaporator 47, as by soldering thereto unitl it continues in a series of convolutions 53 beyond which it is joined at 54 to the evaporator 47.

In operation, a suitable refrigerant in a gaseous state is compressed by the motor co-mpressor 46. The refrigerant then passes from the compressor 46 at 56 and flows to the condenser 48 by way of the tubes 49 and 51. On passing through the tubing 52 the temperature of the refrigerant is so reduced that by the time it is ready to empty into the evaporator coils it is liquified. The capillary tube discharges into the evaporator coils where it expands and there absorbs heat of the air flowing into the cowl thereby reducing the temperature of said air. This process continues until the refrigerant is delivered to the compresser u nit 46, at 57, in a gaseous state.

Below the evaporator 47 is an evaporator disc baflle or diaphragm 58. The baille 58 is bolted at either side thereof at 55 to the member 37, Fig. 8. It is formed with a peripheral upturned rim 59 in adjacent relationship to the interior of the cowl 12. Consequently it affords, with exceptions later to be referred to, a partition transversely of the; interior of the cowl. Centrally thereof the baille 58 is formed with a major aperture 61 (Fig. 6') through which the compressor unit 46 extends. This aperture is large enough to provide a space for the passage of air between the edges thereof and said unit. For at least a fractionof its length, the evaporator coil 47 is soldered to the disc 58 so that heat received thereby from the air entering the cowl may be more readily conveyed to the evaporator for vaporization of the refrigerant therein. The disc 58 is also formed with minor air passages comprising apertures 62, 63, 64, etc., each of which has a flange struck upward from at least one of its edges. For example the aperture 62 is formed with a pair of flanges 66 at its edges, the aperture 63 has a ange 67 at o-ne of its edges, etc. The major aperture 61 is formed with a flange 68 throughout the perimeter of its edge. The purpose of the anges is to increase the area, of disc 58 for contact with the air passing through the several apertures to remove therefrom a predetermined amount of the, heat passing the evaporator so that the air loses its capacity to retain its moisture whereupon said moisture is condensed and deposited on the surface of the disc 58 and the coils 47.

As the condensed water comes in contact with the disc 58 and coils 47, it accumulates and escapes downward through the apertures aforesaid in the diaphragm 58 and accumulates in the basin 16. To guide the waterl thus formed adjacent the cowl, into the basin, the drip ring 34 is employed. It is preferably of molded plastic and L-shaped in transverse section (Fig. 8) so asto include a lower lip 38 extending inward beyond the edge of the basin 16 from the vertical flange 35. Adjacent the upright portions of the standardsv 13 the ring 3'4 is notched at 40 to accommodate said standards and thereat isY provided, on opposite sides thereof, with a hollow boss` 65 where the ring is bolted to the lower member 37.

As indicated, when the apparatus is. operated asa d'ehumidifier in accordance with the present` invention, the condenser 48 receives the refrigerant in a compressed heated condition from the unit46. The heat of the refrigerant passingv through the condenser is then imparted.v to

the air cooled by the evaporator. To augment the exchange of heat at the condenser 48 the coils thereof are surfaced with cooling fins 71.

The condenser 48 is mounted above the upper transverse member 42 (Fig. 4). For its mounting, the several coils of condenser 48 embraced by equiangularly spaced cushioning strips or pads 72, of some suitable soft material such as rubber, each of which is itself embraced by a U-shaped metal strap 73, bolted at 74 to the transverse member 42.

Provision is made for controlling the operation of both the fan motor 41 and the motor compressor 46. The provision involves a selector switch 75 (Figs. 3 and 7). lt is supported by means including a switch bracket 76 having a substantially vertical, planar portion 77 adjacent the wall of the cowl 12. For part of its support, the bracket 76 is bolted to the upper end of a post 78 having,

' at its lower end a lateral arm or foot 79 extending inwardly under the condenser disc 58 to which the foot is rigidly secured. From either vertical edge of the portion 77 one of a pair of parallel arms 80 extend upwardly and inwardly under a motor support plate 81 to which the arms are rigidly secured. Plate 81, in turn, is rigidly secured to the upper member 42. The switch further has a pair of wings 82, in a vertical plane, extending away from each other while the arms have a pair of flanges 83 similarly disposed and to which the wings 82 are bolted. The switch 75 bears a horizontal shaft 84 extending between the arms 79, through portion 77 and cowl l2, externally of which it bears a knob 86 for its manual rotation.

The switch 75 also controls humidifying apparatus for adding moisture to the air flowed through the cowl by the fan 39. The humidifying apparatus is, of course, operated when the motor compressor 46 is not' operating, the switch 475 acting as an interlocking element so that the humidifying and dehumidifying apparatuses can be operated alternately.

Briefly, the humidifying operation is` carried out by moving an electric resistor element, heated to an elevated temperature, into association with the contents of the basin 16 to vaporize said contents by boiling it at its surface so that the vapor may mingle with the flowing air and be discharged through the grille 31. Such a heater element is indicated in its entirety by the character 88 (Fig. 5). It includes a resistance element, not shown, within a metallic tube 89. bent to a G-shaped formation so as to include its two end portions 91 which are parallel, and in spaced relationship to each other. The ends 91 are clamped in this position byv a lower pinch plate 92, below the ends, and an upper pinch plate 93 above the ends, the clamping of the plates toward each other being effected by bolts 94 passing freely through one of the plates and threaded in said other plate. As an aid to further the fixed, spaced relationship of the tube ends 91 to each. other, the lower plate 92, Fig. l0, has offset side flanges 96 extending under the ends and the upper plate 93 has side flanges 95 and 97 on opposite sides thereof extending downward for cooperation with offsets 96 to confine the ends against any tendency to be displayed laterally. To pivotally support the assembly of plates 92. 93, and element 88, the post 78v (Fig. 3) bears. on eitherV side thereof, an ear 98 extending downward between and adjacent to tongues or continuation 9 9 of the offsets 96. A fulcrum is further provided for the element 88 by a pin 101 passing through the tongues 99 and ears 98 so that the remaining end of the heating element may swingA between a point above the level of the basin and a pointA adjacent the bottom thereof.

The element 88, at' its swinging end, embraces a float 102, preferably a hollow body formed of pressed metal and having a peripheral flange 103 held in clamped relation to the element by a' leaf spring clip 104. It is formed with U-shaped ends 105 and 106, biased towardy each other to concurrently embrace the flange 10'3and tube 89. From its ends 105 and l106 the clip extends downward and at the forward region of its downward extension provides a stop 107 engageable with the bottom of the basin 12. When the element is lowered from its uppermost position, above the level of the basin, the buoyancy of the liquid therein supports the oat during which the element 88 is sustained at the surface of, but in engagement with, said liquid. In so doing the heat necessary to vaporiZe the -liquid is imparted thereto principally in the region of the surface thereof, there being no need to heat the entire body of liquid. As it is vaporized, the depth of the liquid is, of course, gradually reduced until means, later to be described, automatically operates to de-energize the element 88 at a predetermined reduced level of the liquid. In case the element 88 is still hot when there is insutcient liquid in the basin to support the float then the stop 107, by engaging the bottom of the basin, spaces the heating element adequately therefrom to obviate damage to the plastic of the basin.

To de-energize the element 88 when it has been lowered to a predetermined level by vaporization of the liquid, a position switch or mercury switch 108 is connected in series with the heating element. Said switch is xed to the anges 97 of the plate 93 and so arranged to be closed except when it is tilted adequately by movement of the element 88 to its lower predetermined position.

As indicated, when the dehumidifying apparatus of the present invention is in operation, the humidifying apparatus is not operating, the heating element 88 being out of the basin 14. Besides the support provided by the pin 101 the element 88 is also supported from the shaft 84 (Fig. 5). This is effected by linkage between said shaft and element 8S including a cam 109 fixed to the shaft 84. It also includes a follower link 111 and a latch link 112. The link 111 is formed with a slot 113 through which the shaft 84 passes freely so that said link may have longitudinal movement transversely of the shaft and be supported by engagement of a lateral follower portion 114, on its upper end, by the cam 109. The lower end of the link 111 is adjustably secured to the upper end of link 112. This is provided by a pair of bolts 117 passing through holes in the link 112 and through a slot 118 in the link 111 which said slot extends lo-ngitudinally so that the proximity of the link to the shaft may be varied. For its coupled relationship to the element 88, the link 112 extends between a flange 119 (Fig. 9), bent downward from the upper pinch plate 93, and a flange 121, bent downward from the lower plate 92. The flange 119 carries a stud 122 extending into a triangular-shaped aperture 123 in the link 112 which is restrained from removal from the stud by the proximity thereto of thev Also, it should be noted that the aperture flange 121. 123 is formed to provide lost motion between the edges thereof and the stud 122. This arrangement enables the element 88 to have movement by the surface of the liquid independently of the linkage when it is lowered by the operation of the cam 109. If desired, counter-weight means may be provided to decrease the pressure of the element 88 on the liquid and to make it easier to turn the cam 109. Suitable means may involve use of a spring 124 coiled about the pin 101 and under torsional deflection by one of its ends 126 pressing against the lower side of pinch plate 92 and another of its ends 127 pressing against the lower side of the foot 78.

It is desirable that the basin be locked against removal, and particularly against lateral forces to dislodge it suddenly from its normal position beneath the cowl 12. This is to avoid damage to the heating element or the basin when the latter is moved violently into engagement with the former. Accordingly, the link 112 extends downward and to a point over the rim of basin 16 where the link is formed with a notch 128 into which the rim of the basin extends when the element 88 is lowered from its uppermost position. In this position, the weight of links 111 and 112 remain supported by the cam 109. Also while in this position, the link 112 is locked against movement by the basin since the link extends through a slot` 129 in the plate 58, the slot limiting edgewise motion of the link 112.

The control of the foregoingapparatus is partly by manual operation of the knob 86. It is xed to the outer end of the shaft 84 and is formed with a pointer 132 (Fig. 5) at its periphery. About the periphery of the knob, on an ornamental dial 133 (Fig. l) which is fixed to the cowl 12, are spaced apart graduations denoted by the following indicia: namely, Off, Dehumidify, Fan and Humidify. When the pointer 132 is opposite the Off indicia, all features of the apparatus are inactive. This is because the several connections, not shown, within the switch 75, are open. Also while the switch connections are open, the follower 114 rests on a high side 134 of the cam 109 thereby supporting the element 88 in its uppermost position above the level of the basin 14. The element 88 remains in its uppermost position when the knob 86 is moved counterclockwise until pointer 132 is at Humidify, due to the formation of the cam 109. When the knob is turned from the Off position one-quarter turn counter-clockwise to the Dehumidify position the fan motor 41 and motor compressor 46 are energizedidue to the operation of the switch to cause the apparatus to operate as a dehumidifier, so that it reduces the humidity of the air within the cowl 12 and ejects the air so conditioned from the upper end of the cowl. By swinging the pointer 132 additionally in a counter-clockwise direction, until it is opposite the indicia, "Fan, the motor compressor 46 is de-energized without interrupting the operation of the fan 39 while the element ,88 is retained in its uppermost position. The cam 109 has a dwell 136 or low side at its periphery, however, which is swung counterclockwise to a point opposite the notation Humidify. At this point the follower 114 having been lowered, the element 88 is also lowered as permitted by the bouyancy of the fluid of basin 16. Concurrently as the pointer is swung to its Humidify position the switch 75 permits the heating element to become energized the circuit being through the mercury switch 108 while the fan 39 continues its operation to blow the moistened air from the cowl. The humidifying operation may, of course, be discontinued at any time by moving the pointer in either direction away from its humidifying position. It is also possible to turn the knob 86 in either direction to shift from one of the operations aforesaid to another of the operations of the apparatus.

Although we have described one embodiment of our invention, We are aware that numerous and extensive departures may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

We claim: i

l. A dehumidifying apparatus comprising an upstanding cowl having air inlet and outlet openings at its lower and upper ends, respectively, a 'baille plate extending substantially completely across the interior of said cowl adjacent the lower end of the cowl, said baffle plate having therein a central opening and a plurality of apertures for passing air from the air inlet opening up into the cowl, a motor-compressor mounted centrally within said cowl with its lower end disposedfin said central opening in the baffle plate, an evaporator and a condenser in closed circuit with said motor-compressor, said evaporator having a lower tortuous portion in heat transfer relationship to said baffle plate and an upwardly extending portion composed of successive convolutions which extend up from said baffle plate and are wound around said motor-compressor, said upwardly extending portion of the evaporator being disposed in the path of the air flow up through said apertures in the baiiie pla-te, a fan disposed at the upper end of the cowl, a moto-r for driving the fan mounted centrally within the cowl directly above said motor-compressor, and said condenser surrounding said motor for the fan 2,867,993" 7 i 8 and' being disposed in the path of the air flow from said References Cited in the le of this patent apertures in the battle plate up through the cowl. l n

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lower por- UNITED STATES PATENTS tion of the evaporator is soldered to the top of the' baffle 1,267,491 Young e-t a1' May 28, 1918 plate and extends in a continuous tortuous path around 5 1,712,204 Gibney May 7, 1929 said apertures and said central opening inthe baffle plate, 1,880,877 Dick Oct` 4, 1932 and said condenser comprises a continuous tube' wound 1,900,956 Somers'all Mar. 14, 1933 around the fan motor in a series of turns disposed pro- 1,953,794 Zur'nrnach Apr. 3, 1934 gressively laterally outward from the fan' motor toward 1,995,805' Hastings Mar. 26, 1935 the side wall of the cowl'. 10 2,001,309 Kelly May 14, 1935 3. The apparatus of. -clairn 2', wherein there is provided 2,022,523 Roessler Nov. 26, 1935 a' vibration-absorbing loop connected in said closed cir- 2,130,092 Kettering Sept. 13, 1938 cuit between the' motor-compressor and the inlet of the 2,150,224 Hull Mar. 14, 1939A condenser. 2,232,998' Cernohouz etal. Feb. 25, 1941' 4. The' apparatus of claim 2, wherein there is pro- 15 2,336,011 Habersturnp Dec. 7, 1943 vided a capillary tube connected' in said closed circuit 2,369,511 Winkler Feb. 13, 1945 between the outlet of the condenserand theinlet of the 2,626,136 Krauss I an. 20, 1953 evaporator, said capillary tube for a portion of'its extent 24,630,691 Harris et' al Mar. 10, 1953 being aflixedr to the successive convolutions of said up- 2,648,202 Otterholrn Aug. 11, 1953 Wardly` extending portion oft the evaporator. 20 2,710,509v Ayling June 14, 1955 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bale plate is formed with upwardly extending flanges at edges of said` apertures. 

